6 Tips for Fading Dark Spots Fast

Sunspots, age spots — tomato, tomahto. We'd rather not think about them at all (we mean spots; tomatoes are fine) — never mind see them on our face and hands — so we put together the best routine for evening out your complexion.

The pigment in brown spots (melanin) moves deeper into skin over time, so a spot is easiest to erase when it's still relatively new (about six months old). If you start early, hyperpigmentation may be nearly gone in two months, says Jessica Wu, a dermatologist in Los Angeles.

UV exposure makes discoloration darker — so if you're not wearing sunscreen, your spots aren't going anywhere. You could bathe in vitamin C, and it wouldn't matter. Slather on sunscreen with SPF 30 or more every single day. (We like Laura Mercier's Daily Face Shield SPF 40.) Another common mistake? Using gritty scrubs, which can irritate skin enough to cause dark spots.

Results from brighteners can plateau in six months to a year, and older spots may still be visible. Ask your dermatologist about a professional peel or laser or prescription of azelaic acid. "It only targets excess melanin, so it won't lighten healthy skin like hydroquinone will," says Jeannette Graf, a dermatologist in Great Neck, New York, who often prescribes it to patients with dark complexions for that reason.